Guest Post by Bradistan Calling
The government has decided to celebrate the year 2007 as ‘Visit Pakistan Year‘.
Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world. It can bring employment, opportunities and recognition. Pakistan is one of the best kept secrets of the tourism industry. Posts on ATP – on our various hidden tourist gems, our history, our culture and heritage, etc. – are examples of all that Pakistan has to offer. Everyone has their own ideas on Pakistan and pakistaniat; but ATP has demonostrated our ‘unity in diversity.’
ATP is the right forum for discussing how we can make “Visit Pakistan 2007″ a success.
What avenues can be explored for participation and promotion of Pakistan. How can we 
attract tourists to Pakistan in 2007 and beyond? What can institutions like the national flag carrier (PIA) do to become a calling card for Pakistani tourism and hospitality? What role can the media play in this? And what can Pakistanis abroad do?
If those Pakistanis who live abroad decide to take ‘Visit Pakistan 2007′ seriously, others will surely follow.
Bradistan Calling is a proud Pakistani in Bradford, West yorkshire (Little Pakistan).
@Ex-Muslim,
No, I didn’t have to convert to anything nor I ever asked my wife to ‘follow’ anything. I am sure the myriads of Baptist relatives around me have secretly talked about me and my spiritual background, perhaps often in disapproving terms. But they are too civilized to start preaching to me. They would be DELIGHTED if I were to convert but that ain’t happening.
As to Pat Robertson and the likes of J. Falwell: I always thought of them as fake Christians. True Christians would never support wars and glorify capitalist greed and jingoistic ‘patriotism’. Jesus’ message was of love and humility and he was for the poor. It is a different matter that many of the followers of these so-called Baptist preachers are only a couple of notches less fanatics than the Talibans. Give them a chance and you will see.
BTW did you also have to convert to SB coz Southern Baptists here are like the Taliban of Pakistan. Correct me but I think grand dragon Pat Robertson himself is also a SB.
My American wife went to Karachi with me December 2005. She loved the balmy winter sun and the quiet beaches of Hawkes Bay and Sandspit. I tried to shield–perhaps over-protect her–by always insisting on putting a ‘dopatta’ on her. But that was because of physical safety reasons–and not some religion-inspired reasons. Karachi is the equivalent of NYCity of Pakistan: Liberal and dynamic.
Anyway, she was offered pasteries by the management of the Pearl Continental hotel because she was, according to him, ‘an honored guest of Pakistan’. She was let in to pet a female elephant even after the Karachi Zoo was closed. And the door to the then-closed World Wildlife Federation gallery/museum at Sandspit were especially opened for her because she was an ‘honored guest’.
We could barely stay 2 weeks in Pakistan. Such are the constraints of careers. But we loved it very much once the jet-lag was over.
PS. Not to scare you but the militants have done a lot of damage to Pakistan since 2007. Our visit was in 2005 when things were much better. So be careful but do not worry about any average Pakistani trying to harass you. My wife remains a Southern Baptist and she was accepted as one of the ‘People of the Book’.